Cars more dependable than ever, Lexus tops the chart while Land Rover is least reliable

Lexus was found to be the most reliable automotive brand in a dependability study by J.D. Power and Associates.

(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Tuesday, April 16, 2013, 3:44 PM

Drivers can be more confident in cars and trucks, whether on the used car market or in their driveway. Automobile dependability has reached its highest mark ever, according to J.D. Power and Associates' 2013 Vehicle Dependability Study.

The dependability study -- now in its 24th year -- measures problems experienced by the original owners of three-year-old vehicles over the past 12 months. This year's study was based on responses of more than 37,000 original owners of 2010 model-year vehicles. The study covered 202 different problem areas in eight major categories, such as engine and transmission, seats and exterior, etc.

J. D. Power ranks brands by the number of "Problems Per 100" vehicles; the lower the number of problems, the better the ranking. In 2013, overall vehicle dependability averaged 126 problems per 100 vehicles, which was a 5 percent improvement from last year's average of 132 problems per 100.

It may come as a surprise, but American brands are steadily closing the dependability gap with its import competition. This year the domestic brands averaged 133 pp 100 and imports averaged 123.

In past surveys, all-new and significantly redesigned vehicles generally had more problems than vehicles that were unchanged from the previous model year, called "carryovers." In the last five years, all-new or substantially redesigned vehicles had anywhere from 6 to 24 problems per 100 more than carryover models. This year, however, all-new vehicles averaged fewer problems (116 pp 100), than the carryovers (133 pp 100). It is too soon to know whether this will be a fluke or a trend.

When it comes to brand rankings, Lexus with only 71 pp 100, is at the top for the second year in a row -- and likely could be in for a long run. Although it lost its top ranking to other brands from 2009 to 2011, Lexus had topped the survey for 14 years previously. Following Lexus, the brands rounding out the top 10 are Porsche, Lincoln, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Buick, Honda, Acura, Ram and Suzuki.

Of the 32 brands included in the study, 21 improved while 10 declined. Land Rover was not ranked in last year's study because of an insufficient sample size. This year it was at the bottom with 220 problems per 100 vehicles.

One of the questions in the survey asked whether owners had to replace components during the prior 12 months. Land Rover had another dubious distinction with 76.2 percent of Land Rover owners having to replace components, making it the brand that required most part replacement.

Among the 10 brands that required replacing the fewest component parts, Buick did the best. Just more than half, 50.4 percent, of Buick owners said they needed to replace a component in the 12 months prior to taking the survey. Next was Lexus, followed by Lincoln, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Toyota, Ford, and Acura. Scion was number 10, with 59.4 percent of owners replacing a part in the 12 months before taking the survey.

J.D. Power also ranks winners in nine car and nine truck/crossover segments. Toyota Motors earned seven segment awards -- the most of any automaker -- for the Lexus ES 350 and RX; Scion xB and xD; and the Toyota Prius, Sienna and RAV4.

General Motors won in four segments for the Buick Lucerne; Chevrolet Camaro and Tahoe; and GMC Sierra Heavy Duty. Honda won in two segments for the Acura RDX and Honda Crosstour.